Ben South "American Dreamgarden"
Think Up, America: The American Ideation Station
(Click on image above to enlarge)Concept: A digital, community hub fairground-like, fun pavilion that educates and inspires people to "Think Up" hundreds of ideas for American jobs, innovation and competitiveness.
Timeframe: Open 1/12 if approved 5/11
5-Parts of Architecture:
1) Glass pavilion houses the already-designed, 240' x 30' digital + collaboratively quilted, hand-drawn painting American Dreamgarden to educate and inspire ideas for jobs 2) Atop pavilion, two, elevated railroad cars repurposed as citizens "think/do tank", and WiFi museum store/cafe 3) External, boldly branded "Think Up" freight elevator unites the pavilion and elevated, digital deck 4) Powell Avenue "You, Me and Alexander Graham B." giant, personalized, digital photomontage 5) Vertical "Quilted Garden" with Birmingham-branded jasmine creating jobs for disabled
Alabama Quilted Design: that which binds us together in Birmingham; quilted steel panels; quilted glass; quilted vertical garden jasmine wall; quilted digital art gallery exterior; quilted interior
WHY DO THIS: --Embraces all viable CFGH "Big Idea" entries for further study/planting and nurtures many others --Railroad Park instantly becomes "crossroads for creative thinkers" (Triumph of City, Glaeser) --Pulsing energy of the city feeds roots of 21st century idea garden --Democratizes ideation, technology, art/design --Awe of vast, paint-ready collaborative art. ("We do big things." Pres. Obama Jan, 2011) --Net-zero energy with solar powering after hours; 24/7 "green" experience --Geo-fencing digital map stitches together EVERY cultural opportunity in Bham --Visitor Engagement of all 4 types: Observers, Participants, Independents, Enthusiasts --Self-funding not-for-profit ideation education institute by 6/12 (Corporate Branding, Donations, Branded Merchandise, Gift Shop/Cafe, Facility Event Rental, Ideation Meeting Speaker Bureau)
WHY BEN SOUTH: --"Think Up" ideation program for AT&T reaped $1.4 million in year one --Has 1,022 product ideas compiled over 15 years to multiply times other idea-gineers --Taught college-level creative thinking; 12 months "idea garden" lessons ready for Railroad Park --Hand-drawn 240' x 30' idea garden painting ready-to-paint --Ben South's "Alabama quilted paintings" featured at Governor Beasley inauguration --Created/owns regional brand (Southernness, Inc.) in 12 states/160 shops --Branding manager with NASCAR, Olympics experience, BrandWeek Best of the Year --Trademarked Seven Signs of Being Southern (10,000 books sold) --Masters in Special Education; Certified Gerontologist; Pre-School Evaluator; College-level Teacher --Lives in Downtown Birmingham; volunteers at Railroad Park --3,050 Facebook friends; Twitterfeeds American innovation every "Think Up Thursday"
Inspirations: Redeployed tube carriages (Auro Foxcroft, London); RED ELEVATOR (Sir Norman Foster); TED prize of JR; Jasmine Revolution
I. COOL FACTOR:
Pulsing energy of Birmingham feeds roots of 21st century idea garden. Optimizes ALL viable ideas submitted to CFGB "Big Idea" campaign and encourages further creative thinking. Awe of 240' x 30' digital + community-created quilted painting. Ecologically focused, boldly colored "Alabama Quilted Play Pavilion" creates a digital, community hub and instant landmark at Railroad Park.
II. COMPLEMENT RAILROAD PARK/BIRMINGHAM DISTINCTIVE:
Creates crossroads for creative thinkers (see "Triumph Of The City," Glaeser, 2011); Note: I personally have 1,022 product ideas compiled over 15 years promising some American jobs, then multiply that times many other ideators; Geo-fencing with digital map stitches together EVERY cultural opportunity in Birmingham; use my trademarked "Seven Signs of Southernness" based on $2.3 million research (10,000 books sold) to uniquely reflect Birmingham's: Timeweaving, Family, Heritage, Hospitality, Nature, Passion and Pleasure.
III. FEASIBLE/DOABLE/REVENUE PRODUCING:
Self-funding not-for-profit, ideation education institute by 6/12. Revenue Mix: Corporate Branding (I've created brands and managed branding for NASCAR and Olympics); Donations (corporate, individual, foundations, venture capitalists, government); Gift Shop/Cafe with branded merchandise (Member of Museum Store Association for 10 years); Facility Event Rental; Birmingham-branded ideation speakers bureau. Savings Mix: Net-zero energy with solar powering after hours; Birmingham disabled create/maintain vertical jasmine garden and sell branded plants; low/no maintenance materials (quilted steel panels); self-guided tours/limited staff. Birmingham taxpayers pay nothing but bask in national prestige.
IV. MAGNETIC/FRESH/DYNAMIC/CHANGING DESTINATION/REPEAT VISITS
This "Peoples Democratizing Idea Pavilion" needs to be in the middle of things. An immediate, "Visitor Must-See" with spirit-lifting art made dynamic with digital phone apps, video, video-gaming, digital photo gallery, daily idea Twitterfeed. This is a 24/7 experience. Nighttime, "Visitor Must-See" giant, photomontage, "Alexander Graham B. and Me," changing instantly with their uploaded photo + Edison/Ford/Zuckerberg, others. Programs/talks inspire and educate for ideation. I've already created 12, original "dreamgarden themed" exercises for first year of creative thinking.
V. BROAD APPEAL/OFFER HOPE FOR ALL AGES/RESIDENTS & VISTORS/UNIFYING
Visitor Engagement of all 4 types: Observers, Participants, Independents, Enthusiasts. My masters degree in Special Ed, evaluating pre-schools, certification in Gerontology and college-level ideation teaching used to engage all. (A robot mascot like, Furby/Pano, could add "digital pet.") Root mission grows hope for American jobs, innovation and competitiveness. This "Big Idea" respects Birmingham traditions but moves our city into the 21st Century Digital Age. I live in a Downtown Birmingham loft and walk to Railroad Park. I tweet about American innovation every Think Up Thursday. I want to invite my 3,000+ Facebook friends to come to Birmingham's new, digital community hub and Think Up, America.